Updated 4:02 pm, Friday, September 11, 2015

An Orange man was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison for robbing elderly and disabled people in Beaumont and Nederland last year.

Preston Joseph Robertson, 43, previously pleaded guilty to the robberies, which occurred between February and April 2014, according to a statement from the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.

He followed elderly citizens home as they left businesses, according to the statement. Video surveillance showed Robertson targeted those parked in handicapped spaces.

Robertson would approach victims as they got out of their cars and would beat them before taking wallets, purses and other valuables, according to the statement. Assistant District Attorney Luke Nichols called Robertson a predator who needed to be taken off the streets.

"He sought out and assaulted the most vulnerable victims he could find, and he deserves to be removed from society," Nichols said in the statement.